Wall ironing tool pack

ABSTRACT

A wall ironing tool pack in which one or more ironing dies or rings are held in a holder and clamped by means of a pressure ring. In setting up, the tool pack components and a pressure ring are stacked in the desired relationship in a holder with the ring not pressurized. A can or other cylindrical object is wall ironed through the tool pack with just enough pressure in the pressure ring to hold the components in position while permitting slip along the interfaces thereof for alignment. When alignment has been achieved, pressure on the pressure ring is increased to retain the components in alignment with each other and with the punch. The pressure ring permits a change in the length of the tool pack caused by heating or cooling, while retaining the alignment of the pack.

United States Patent Kaminski [54] WALL IRONING TOOL PACK [15] 3,656,335 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Elton G. Kaminski, Sidney, Ohio 632,298 2/ 1963 Belgium ..72/347 I h [73] Assignee T e Strolle Corporation, Sidney Ohio Primary Examiner Rlchard J. Herbst [22] F ed J n 1970 Attorney-Melville, Strasser, Foster & Hoffman l l. N 49 219 [2 1 App 57 ABSTRACT Related Application Data A wall ironing tool pack in which one or more ironing dies or [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 26,356, Apr. 7, 1970, rings are held in a holder and clamped by means of a pressure abandoned. ring. In setting up, the tool pack components and a pressure ring are stacked in the desired relationship in a holder with the Cl 72/467 ring not pressurized. A can or other cylindrical object is wall Cl 22/23 ironed through the tool pack with just enough pressure in the Fleld of Search "72/349, pressure ring to the components in position per mitting slip along the interfaces thereof for alignment. When [56] References Cited alignment has been achieved, pressure on the pressure ring is UNITED STATES PATENTS increased to retain the components in alignment with each other and with the punch. The pressure ring permits a change 2,581,663 1/1952 lngersoll ..72/35O i h l th f the ack caused by heating or cooling, 1 Tanner retaining the alignment of the pack 3,399,558 9/1968 Smith et a1.. ..72/468 3,359,775 12/1967 Langewis ..72/344 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 5 I /e P T r I 1 2/ (1 i 1 20 27 L J own g3 2525 Z? A PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3, 656.335

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTORfS ELTON G KAMINJSKI ATTORNEYS WALL IRONING TOOL PACK CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 26,356 filed Apr 7, 1970, now abandoned, entitled Wall Ironing Tool Pack" in the name of Elton G. Kaminski.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The alignment and clamping of a stack of ironing rings in a wall ironing tool pack has for many years presented a difficult problem. Numerous attempts have been made to solve this problem but all have been subject to complications and none has been entirely successful. Thus, for example, in some tool packs reliance has been had upon extremely precision components, firmly clamped at initial set-up in accurate alignment with thepunch, with no provision for adjustment to overcome errors introduced by normal manufacturing tolerances. Another tool pack has been designed to permit full floating of the ironing rings within the pack but these have proved unsatisfactory because the punch, due to its long length, would normally first deflect instead of producing alignment of the ironing rings. Other tool packs have allowed for initial alignment of the ironing rings with the punch after which the rings were locked into position by the use of jack-screw locking devices to retain the rings in their alignment position. This arrangement did not take into account subsequent increase in length of the tool pack resulting from heat induced in the pack components as a result of normal operation. With these devices, it was necessary to stop the press and readjust the jack-screw device.

According to the present invention, the ironing rings are held in a tool pack in substantial alignment and are lightly clamped by means of a pressure ring. The punch is caused to travel slowly to wall iron 21 can through the rings and the rela tively loose clamping permits the ironing rings to slide at their interfaces to adjust themselves to the punch. As soon as alignment is complete, pressure is increased on the pressure ring and the rings are then held in perfect alignment. Expansion and contraction of theme! pack can take place by compres' sion and expansion of the pressure ring without any resulting misalignment of the several ironing rings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is across sectional view through a wall ironing pack of the .presentinvention.

FIG; 2 is an end view thereof, as seen from the left of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view in detail of the pressure ring.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified pressure ring; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the same on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the present invention, the holder element indicated at l0 is provided with a semi-circular hollow portion 11 A front retainer 12 in the form of a plate having an opening 13 therein, is secured to one end of the holder by bolts 14 or the like, and a retainer 15 also having a hole 16 therein is bolted orotherwise secured to the other end of the holder 10. A hold-down plate 17 having a part circular lower face is bolted or,otherwise secured to the holder 10 by means of bolts l8orthe like, and it fits in between the end plates 12 and 15. It ,isprovided with an opening 19 to permit accessto the pressurering. 1

In the embodiment illustrated, three wall ironing rings are indicated at 20, 21 and 22. A predraw ring is shown at 23 and may beemployed if desired and the plate 15 may contain a segmented stripper, as indicated at 24. The pressurering is indicated at 25 and is provided with the tube connection 26 for connectionto a source of fluid pressure. The spacer elements 27 and 28 are configured to seat the pressure ring 25 between them.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that when pressure is applied at 26, the pressure ring 25 will expand and clamp the several ironing rings and spacers tightly between the plates 12 and 15.

As indicated above, at the outset, the desired number of wall ironing rings with appropriate spacers are placed in the holder 10. The hold-down plate 17 is then secured in place. It should be noted that the hold-down plate is never utilized to clamp the ironing rings or spacers but is simply a safety device to prevent damage to components during operation.

A relatively light pressure is then applied to the pressure ring sufficient to clamp the several spacers and wall ironing rings in position while still permitting sliding movement at their interfaces for alignment.

A can is then wall ironed through the tool pack and as soon as alignment has been accomplished, pressure on the pressure ring is increased to hold the pack in proper alignment of all the components with respect to each other and with the punch throughout its working stroke.

As heat is induced in the tool pack during operation whereby the tool pack length is increased, the pressure ring will permit such expansion and will not necessitate disassembly and readjustment of the tool pack.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pressure ring is in the form of a relatively flat ring of flexible impervious material which is simply inflated for clamping purposes. In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressure ring is in the form of an annular cylinder with an annular piston therein. Thus, in FIG. 5 the cylinder is shown at 30 and the piston at 31. Suitable piston rings are provided at 32. Fluid under pressure is introduced through the port 33 and passes through the passage 34 into the annular space below the piston. The members 35 seen in FIG. 4 are positioning pins to prevent rotation of the cylinder 30 in the pack.

The arrangement herein disclosed is also advantageous in a situation where no clearance is provided between the rings and the holder, and reliance is had upon precision components. The use of the pressure ring of either embodiment, while no longer used in the aligning of the ironing rings, still provides for easy change or replacement of scored or damaged rings. Pressure is simply released, the damaged ring is removed, a new ring is inserted and clamping pressure is again applied. Furthermore, the problem of expansion of the pack due to heat is taken care of as before.

Itwill be understood that the number of ironing rings and the use of predraw rings and strippers do not constitute limitations upon the invention. By the use of appropriate spacers, the device will function with a single ironing ring or with more than three ironing rings if desired.

It is, therefore, to be understood that no limitation not expressly set forth in the claims is intended or should be implied.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A wall ironing tool package comprising a holder having a semi-cylindrical cavity adapted to receive at least one wall ironing ring to cooperate with a punch, and a pressure ring, end plates secured to said holder, a hold-down plate having a part cylindrical portion and arranged to fit between said end plates and be removably secured to said holder to define a substantially cylindrical compartment for said rings, said pressure ring being expansible, and having means to supply fluid under pressure to the interior thereof, the length of said holder and the axial dimensions of said rings being such that inflation of said pressure ring clamps said rings between said end plates.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pressure ring is of flexible impervious material.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of wall ironing rings are seated in said holder and clamped by said clampmg ring.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein a predraw ring is seated in said holder adjacent the punch entry end thereof.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the end plate at the exit end of said holder is provided with a segmented stripper.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein a plurality of wall ironing rings are seated in said holder and clamped by said clamping ring.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein a predraw ring is seated in said holder adjacent the punch entry end thereof.

11. The structure of claim 8, wherein the end plate at the exit end of said holder is provided with a segmented stripper.

12. The structure of claim 8, wherein the outside diameter of said rings is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said cylindrical compartment.

UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,656 335 Dated April 18 1972 Inventor(s) Elton G n ki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent I and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

lhe name of the Assignee is THE STOLLE CORPORATION.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLEI'CHER,JR.

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO1050(10-69) USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 h u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFlCE: 196s o--ss-a:u 

1. A wall ironing tool package comprising a holder having a semi-cylindrical cavity adapted to receive at least one wall ironing ring to cooperate with a punch, and a pressure ring, end plates secured to said holder, a hold-down plate having a part cylindrical portion and arranged to fit between said end plates and be removably secured to said holder to define a substantially cylindrical compartment for said rings, said pressure ring being expansible, and having means to supply fluid under pressure to the interior thereof, the length of said holder and the axial dimensions of said rings being such that inflation of said pressure ring clamps said rings between said end plates.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pressure ring is of flexible impervious material.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of wall ironing rings are seated in said holder and clamped by said clamping ring.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein a predraw ring is seated in said holder adjacent the punch entry end thereof.
 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the end plate at the exit end of said holder is provided with a segmented stripper.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of said rings is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said cylindrical compartment.
 7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the rings fit snugly in said cylindrical compartment without radial clearance.
 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said pressure ring is constituted by an annular cylinder with an annular piston therein having an annular head, and a fluid passage through said head and piston, whereby fluid pressure may be applied to the interior of said cylinder through said passage to expand said pressure ring.
 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein a plurality of wall ironing rings are seated in said holder and clamped by said clamping ring.
 10. The structure of claim 8, wherein a predraw ring is seated in said holder adjacent the punch entry end thereof.
 11. The structure of claim 8, wherein the end plate at the exit end of said holder is provided with a segmented stripper.
 12. The structure of claim 8, wherein the outside diameter of said rings is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said cylindrical compartment. 